>DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

(Senate - October 27, 2005)

   Mr. CRAPO. I want to express my appreciation for the chairman's efforts, and those of the subcommittee ranking member, Senator HARKIN, in working to ensure the health and well-being of Americans everywhere. As you know, a silent health crisis is currently affecting America's men. On average, American men live shorter and less healthy lives than American women. Men lead in each of the 15 major of death in America except Alzheimer's and have a life span of almost 6 years shorter than their female counterparts. While this health crisis is of particular concern to men, it is also a concern for women whose fathers, husbands, sons and brothers feel the physical, financial and emotional effects of poor health. Men's health is also a concern for employers who pay the costs of medical care, and lose productive employees. In addition Federal, State and local governments must often absorb the enormous costs of premature death and disability, including the costs of caring for dependents left behind.

   There are a number of ailments of particular concern to men. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States among men, accounting for 33 percent of all cancer cases. An estimated 230,000 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone, and approximately 30,000 will die. Prostate cancer, unfortunately, is not the only health threat facing men. Over 8,000 men, ages 15 to 40, will be diagnosed this year with testicular cancer, and 390 of these men will die of this disease in 2005.

   Fortunately, many of these conditions are treatable if detected early enough. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 and thanks to early detection and treatment was able to beat the disease. I had prostate specific antigen, PSA, tests and other recommended tests every 3 to 6 months after my surgery. Last year, my doctors detected a slight rise in PSA, and I underwent successful radiation treatment. Because I caught and treated the onset of this disease early on, I was able to beat it, again. Appropriate use of tests such as PSA exams and blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screens, in conjunction with clinical exams and self-testing, can result in the early detection of many problems and in increased survival rates.

   Unfortunately, many men are not taking the steps necessary to protect themselves and their families from these devastating conditions. Statistically, women visit the doctor far more often than men. Too often, men fail to get routine checkups or health counseling, and they often ignore symptoms or delay seeking medical attention when sick or in pain. In addition, when men do seek care, embarrassment can often prevent them from openly discussing health concerns with their physicians.

   To increase men's health awareness I have introduced legislation to establish an Office of Men's Health under the Department of Health and Human Services. This office would be based on the Office of Women's Health, currently operating within HHS, which has done a fantastic job of assisting women in identifying and battling many conditions common to women. Educating men, their families, and health care providers about the importance of early detection of male health problems can result in reducing rates of mortality for male-specific diseases, as well as improve the health of America's men and its overall economic well-being. While an Office of Men's Health is not a cure-all, it will assist men to focus on many health problems that can be treated successfully if diagnosed early. Prevention and early detection can only happen with increased public awareness, something the proposed office hopes to provide. I yield to the distinguished chairman to elaborate on this point.

   Mr. SPECTER. I, too, recognize the importance of correct information, prevention, and early detection in health care. Clearly, efforts must be made to encourage men to address their health problems in a confident, timely, and meaningful manner. I encourage the administration to work with my distinguished colleague to establish an Office of Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services.

   Mr. CRAPO. I thank the Senator.
  
   RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT

   Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss with the distinguished subcommittee chairman the need to amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, RECA.

   Mr. SPECTER. I yield to the Senator.

   Mr. CRAPO. As my colleagues are aware, the National Academy of Sciences, NAS, released a report on April 28 of this year calling on Congress to establish new scientific criteria for decisions about awarding Federal compensation to people who have developed specific diseases, including certain cancers, as a result of exposure to radioactive fallout from U.S. nuclear weapons tests. I wholeheartedly agree with them.

   When Congress passed RECA 15 years ago, an important first step was taken to provide compassionate assistance to those directly affected by nuclear testing conducted by the United States. However, it soon became clear that a legislative remedy which was bound by geographic restrictions, and not scientific evidence, was not sufficient to fully rectify the problem at hand. This was confirmed in 1999, when Senator HATCH introduced his amendments to expand RECA and include affected counties in Arizona.

   Today, the NAS has determined that residents in counties and States far from the original Nevada Test Site were not only exposed to radiation, but may even have been exposed to much higher levels than those in currently eligible areas. In fact, there are areas in my native Idaho that have demonstrably higher incidence of thyroid dosage of radiation than any other county currently covered by RECA. It seems unconscionable to me that people living in these areas are not currently eligible for compensation.

   Those affected are not asking for special treatment, they are simply asking for fairness. As R. Julian Preston, director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Carcinogenesis Division, stated, ``To be equitable, any compensation program needs to be based on scientific criteria and similar cases must be treated alike. The current geographic limitations are not based on the latest science.''

   To rectify this inequity, I think it is of utmost importance that Congress take up my legislation, S. 998 to include the State of Idaho as an affected area under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

   Additionally, it is incumbent upon Congress to address the long-term challenges faced by the RECA program. The NAS report makes several specific recommendations, chief among them that Congress should establish a new process for reviewing individual claims, based on probability of causation, or ``assigned share,'' a method which is used in the courts and other radiation compensation programs. It also recommends that the RECA program be expanded to include workers involved in uranium milling and ore transportation. I urge you to join me in implementing these suggestions of the NAS into legislation.

   Mr. SPECTER. I appreciate the Senator's interest in this issue and recognize that he has legislation pending in Congress to address the needs of affected Idahoans. I say to my friend and colleague that I will work with him to identify necessary improvements and to respond to findings contained in the NAS report. I also urge the administration to work diligently to help those still in need.

   Mr. CRAPO. I thank the distinguished chairman.